Remember this one?

Just reflecting on His goodness:)

Hubby vs. The Squirrel

Hubby has been in an ongoing battle with a very bold and persistent squirrel.

Round 1:

The fury little creature ate a hole in the top of our plastic garbage can. So, hubby had a new one delivered. He ate a hole in that one too.

Squirrel- 1. Hubby- 0

Round 2:

Hubby heard that squirrels would be turned off by the smell of coyote urine. So, he bought a spray bottle full of some concoction that included coyote urine from Home Depot. He sprayed that all over the top of our garbage can. Apparently, the squirrel thought the concoction was there for his benefit. So, he used it as his barbeque sauce. He continued to get in our garbage.

Squirrel-2 Hubby-0

Round 3:

Hubby thought he would really outsmart our little nuisance by using duck tape to put a mesh wire tightly over the hole that the squirrel made in our garbage can. This seemed to have worked for a while. But, eventually the squirrel decided that the mesh wire could serve as a sort of appetizer before his main course and ate through that too.

Squirrel-3 Hubby-0

Round 4:

Hubby got wind of the fact the squirrels hate the smell of ammonia. Thus, hubby got a large towel and kept it soaked in ammonia and stuck it inside the hole that the squirrel had made in our garbage. Hubby had finally won. The squirrel stopped coming around and seemed to finally be defeated.

Alas, tis not that simple. Once the weather warmed up and it was hard to keep the towel wet, the squirrel came back and ate an even bigger hole in the garbage can.

Squirrel-4 Hubby-0

Which leads us to Round 5...

You are looking at Hubby's latest conception. It consist of plastic from a canola oil bottle that is literally cocked to the garbage can. Furthermore, the brick you see is holding the plastic in place with the help of that shovel.

Has hubby finally defeated the notorious squirrel? Or can this squirrel eat through brick and mortar? At this point, I wouldn't be surprised. Perhaps it can also leap tall buildings in a single bound.

Actually, hubby says that if the squirrel can get through this one, he deserves our garbage. In fact, he says he might just buy the squirrel a big fat victory cake and set it inside.

To be continued...

Wordless Wednesday

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Caution: Girls Having Fun...

..and a nap.

"Frap me Lord"

Verb 1. frap - make secure by lashing; "frap a sail" lash - bind with a rope, chain, or cord; "lash the horse"

2. frap - take up the slack of; "frap a rope" tighten, fasten - make tight or tighter; "Tighten the wire"

In the series, The Incomparable Christ , Nancy Leigh DeMoss explains that Hebrew tells us,

Because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted (2:18).

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin (4:15).

He is the incomparable Christ. He was tempted but without sin

So, verse 16 of Hebrews 4:

Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need (4:16).

You see that word help twice in those verses. “He’s able to help those who are being tempted.” “He will give grace to help us in our time of need.”

I looked up that word in the original Greek language. It’s a word that’s used to describe a rope or a chain that is used to hold together a boat, a vessel that is falling apart. It’s called “frapping a vessel.” It’s wrapped around this vessel, and it’s used to hold it together.

It’s the same word that’s used in Acts chapter 27 when the apostle Paul was in this boat going to Rome and a great storm came up, and the boat was going to be shipwrecked. It says, “They used supports to undergird the ship” (v. 17). That word supports is the same word help. “He is able to help those who are being tempted.

I’ve come to love this picture because when our little “ship” is being storm-tossed, and we feel like we’re in danger of falling apart from being assaulted by the evil one, from being tempted and tried, Jesus is the one who holds us together, who undergirds us, who supports us. He can do this, He help us, He can hold us together, because He knows what it is to be tempted and tried Himself without ever having given in to temptation.

Doesn't that sound good? I don't know about you, but when the storms of life are raging, I'm so glad that I can depend on Jesus to "frap" me and hold me together!

Celebrating Our Boy!

Its kind of hard to believe that it was 2 years ago that our son Noah was born!

Although it was hubby who prayed continually that the Lord would bless us with a son, somehow it seems as though I have benefited from that prayer more than anyone!

Noah and I are so close and I enjoy his sense of humor, his boyish ways, and his cute face more than I could have ever imagined. They told me this would happen.

Happy Birthday Noah!!!

Celebrate The Boy

Dana has done a beautiful job at "celebrating the boy" at her blog Made. She dedicated 30 days to celebrating all things "boy" by sharing boy clothing, crafts, style, and ideas! I'm loving it!


The celebration has included numerous ideas in terms of boy fashion. One of my favorites were these classic bow ties by Xoelle.

By His Wounds I am Healed

This is SO my song right now.

"But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed." (Is. 53:5)

On Patience

Fill in the blank.

You know you've lost your patience when____.

1. You start counting to 10.

2. You start praying along the lines of: "Dear Lord, help me not to knock (insert name) from here into next week."

3. You start slamming doors and dishes.

4. You start looking around for anything you can get your hands on to throw/strike with.

5. You can finish this sentence: "If one more person touches me/asks me for anything, so help me God, I will ________."

6. You suddenly feel a connection with those moms you've seen on the news.

7. You find that you're somewhere in your home hiding.

8. You're mumbling something under your breath about not being afraid to go to jail.

9. You got everyone scared to move because you're irritated when others engage in any of the following:

1. Relaxation.

2. Laughter.

3. Leaving the premises.

Your immediate responses/thoughts to these actions are:

*with a crazed look in your eye*

"What are you doing? (pause) Nothing. Exactly."

"What are you laughing at? (pause) Ain't. Nothin'. Funny."

"Oh? Where you going? (pause) If anybody needs to go somewhere, its me!"

10. You have sudden thoughts of yourself with a new name, lying on a beach somewhere wearing dark sunglasses and a wig.

Sleeping Beauty

The Gift of an Ordinary Day

As a mom with young children, I really value the experience and insight that comes from parents who have adult children. Older people usually can't tell me enough to "enjoy your children while they're young! This time goes by so fast!"

This clip of author, Katrina Kenison reading from her book, The Gift on an Ordinary Day is very insightful and gives me a lot to think about as a young mom. It makes me not want to take one moment for granted!

Big Sister, Little Sister

Just as I suspected, Bella is quite the little nurturer. She comes in my room often to check on the baby and asks me if she can "keep and eye" on her.

One night, she took the baby doll that my mom bought for Halle and covered it up under a blanket next to Halle. Bella was proud of her work.

Bella was made sure that both Halle and her baby doll were comfortable. If you look closely, you will see that she even added a "special touch" by using one of my breast pads as a pillow for the baby doll.
Bella even wanted to nurse Halle. I explained that I had that part under control;)

Our Snowman

Hubby took advantage of the Blizzard of 2011 and made a snowman with the kids. This our family's first snowman, and I look forward to many more to come!

The Heart of Courageous

We loved Flywheel, Facing the Giants, and Fireproof. In September 2011, Sherwood Pictures will be introducing its newest motion picture: Courageous! I can't wait!